Lifting curfew not solution. Relocate army bases to needed East Coast: Warisan
Published on: Friday, December 08, 2023
Assaffal and Ailsa
Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan welcomed the UK Government’s decision to lift the travel advisory for the islands and dive sites surrounding Kudat on Wednesday, and thanked the newly appointed British Commissioner to Malaysia, Ailsa Terry, for her efforts.
Tungku Assemblyman Assafal P Alian said both Sandakan and Tawau have been facing sluggish economy due to long curfews, lack of investments by private sectors, water/electricity supply disruptions and this is compounded by Covid-19 outbreak.
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“Many retail shops are visibly empty during peak hours, save for vehicle spare parts and hardware shops, so it is crucial that we resuscitate the tourism sector not only at these two districts but others in the East Coast as well by firstly enhancing the border security and secondly to communicate regularly with these European governments.
“We need to convince the international business and trade associations that the East Coast of Sabah is actually safe,” he said.
Assaffal also reiterated the call by Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal for the relocation of the two army camps, Lok Kawi Camp and Paradise Camp, to the East Coast as permanent solution to Sabah’s border security.
“With increasing radicalism and global geopolitical conflicts that will find its way to Asian countries, we must come out with permanent solution not only to prevent possible future intrusion in the East Coast of Sabah but also to end piracy, illegal immigration and smuggling.
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“What is the point to lift the curfew this year only to reinstate it again next year should the threat of KFR (Kidnap for Ransom) or even militancy resurface?
“Obviously, reinstatement of curfews will raise the red flag on travel advisories thus we might as well go for the once and for all solution to these threats by relocating these camps to the east coast,” he said.
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